VICTORIA, B.C. – In a landmark decision that could reshape the gig economy across the country, more than 500 Uber drivers in Victoria have successfully unionized, becoming the first group of ride-hailing drivers in Canada to win official union certification.
The BC Labour Relations Board has certified the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1518 as the official bargaining agent for the drivers. The union is calling it a “massive win” for platform workers who have been organizing for years for better pay, improved safety measures, and fair treatment.
This historic certification gives drivers a legal seat at the negotiating table, allowing them to collectively bargain a formal contract with Uber, a right that has been elusive for gig workers who are often classified as independent contractors rather than employees.
The union will now work to negotiate its first collective agreement, which is expected to focus on key issues like establishing a fair pay structure, a transparent deactivation (firing) process, and ensuring drivers have a voice in their working conditions.
While this certification applies specifically to Uber drivers operating in the Victoria area, the precedent is being watched closely across the province, including here in the Skeena region. The ruling could influence the future of other app-based delivery and service workers in northern communities, setting a new standard for so-called “gig worker” rights in British Columbia.
The move marks a major shift in the ongoing debate about the rights and protections for workers in the modern app-based economy.
